Moistening device



(No Model.)

H. D. SAYLOR 8v F. KEISER.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

Patented Sept. 21,1897.

i l l 1 un l l L wuewbow M4 Meij@ l A@ Mar ozmgo w UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE.

HENRY D. SAYLOR AND FLORENZ KEISER, OF POTTSTOIVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MOISTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,465, dated September 21, 1897. Application led .Tilly l0, 1897. Serial No. 644,050. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that We, HENRY D. SAYLOR and FLORENZ KEISER, citizens of the United States, residing at Pottstown, in the county of Montgomery and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Iml provements in MoisteningDevices; and We do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference, being had to the accompanyingl drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which forni a part of this specification.

y Our invention is directed to improvements in devices for moistening postage-stamps, seals, envelops, and the like, With the object in view of producing a simple and inexpensive construction capable of being conveniently handled and possessing other advantages in point of eiciency, durability, and cleanliness.

The nature of our invention Will become clearly apparent from a reading of the following detailed description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure l is a perspective View of our im-v proved moistening device. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view, and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the said drawings by letter, A denotes the body of our improved moistening device, which is preferably of box form, and B is the cover, which is adapted to iit the body closely to render the device approximately air-tight. The body and cover are preferably of rectangular shape and are made of metal and coated both inside and out with a non-oxidizable material. In the top of the cover are transversely-disposed slots b b, and between the slots are a number of perforations b b. Depending from the under side of the cover at the slots b are transverse plates c c, which are connected together at their lower ends byacross-bar d. The plates c may be secured to the cover in any suitable Way, butl We prefer to form said plates integrally with a bridge portion c and to pass the plates through the slots b and secure the portion c to the top of the cover, as shown. The portion c is provided with perforations c2 c2, Which register with the perforations b,

in the cover-top. Each of the plates c is reduced at its lower end and bent to forni a loop c3, in which is confined a staple-like device e, having pointed ends e' e', which project outwardly from the plates c and at or about right angles thereto. f is a Web of teX- tile material capable of capillary action,which is engaged by the devices e, and which is passed through one slot b, over the portion o', and then through the other slot, as shown.

In practice the body portion of the device is supplied with Water, and the cover being in place the ends of the web are submerged in the water body and by capillary action the web becomes thoroughly saturated and the device is ready for use in moistening stamps, seals, envelops, and the like, which is ac-V complished by pressing the gummed surface of the article on the exposed portion of the web, which exposed portion is maintained in a saturated condition so long as the proper quantity of Water remains in the body of the device. The Web is preferably of such a length as to enable the same to be shifted from time to time to present a new surface Without the device.

Any suitable material may be employed for the web, but We prefer to use a material such as corduroy, owing to the ribbed surface possessed by this fabric.

As previously stated, the device is rendered approximately air-tight to lessen the degree of evaporation of the body of` Water. This provision causes Water of condensation to collect on the under side of the cover, and to utilize this moisture we provide the perforations previously described, which afford an outlet therefor, and the Web being over and against the perforations the moisture is taken up thereby, With the result of assisting the capillary action in effecting the saturation of the web.

The device when constructed in accordance with the foregoing is very efficient in operation and is readily manipulated, being of small compass and of handy form. It is susceptible of ornamentation, and when not in use may be employed as a Weight for papers and the like.

The construction is simple, and hence the device may be cheaply produced, and thel IOO jeotions, and a Web extending between the slots and passed through the latter and engaged bythe proj eotions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A moistening device comprising a body portion, a oover provided with transverse slots and intermediate perforations, plates depending from said cover and carrying pointed projections, and a web covering said perforaiions and passed at its ends through the slots and engaged by the projections, substantially as andfor the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof We afl-ix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

HENRY D. SAYLOR. FLORENZ KEISER.

lVitnesses:

A. H. HENDRICKS, WILSON R; BRQWN. 

